Craik

This is of English locational origin from a place in Norfolk called Creake, recorded variously as Creic, Creich and Suthcreich in the Domesday Book of 1086. The latter refers to South Creak as distinct from North Creak. The name derives from the Olde Welsh "Creic" meaning a rock. It is also possible that the name derives from Crayke in the North Riding of Yorkshire, also recorded as Creic in the Domesday Book, and considered to have identical origins. The surname from this source is first recorded in the latter half of the 13th Century, (see below). The name Creak is particularly well recorded in Norfolk Church Registers from the late 16th Century onwards. On December 10th 1580 one, Margaret Creak was christened in St. Mary's, South Walsham and on January 25th 1584, Thomas Creak and Margary Leath were married in West Rudham. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ralph Crake. which was dated 1273, in the "Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire". during the reign of King Edward 1, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.